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Advance Directives

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

What is an Advance Directive for Health Care?

A: An Advance Directive for Health Care is a written legal document which allows you to instruct your attending physician whether or not you wish to be given life-sustaining treatments and artificially administered nutrition (food) and hydration (water) and to give other medical directions that impact the end of life. Its purpose is to recognize your right to control some aspects of your medical care and treatment primarily including the right to decline medical treatment or direct that it be withdrawn even if death ensues. An Advance Directive for Health Care may include a living will, the appointment of a healthcare proxy (a proxy is a person authorized to act for another) and directions for organ donation.

Who can sign an Advance Directive for Health Care?

A: Any person of sound mind who is 18 or older.

Does the signing of an Advance Directive require witnesses and a notary public?

A: An Advance Directive must be signed before two witnesses who are 18 or older. The witnesses cannot be beneficiaries under your will nor may they be persons who would inherit your property if you died without a will. An Advance Directive is not required to be notarized.

Does my physician have to comply with my wishes?

A: If you have completed an Advance Directive and been diagnosed as terminally ill or persistently unconscious by two physicians as defined in the Advance Directive and your attending physician does not want to comply with your wishes, that physician must act promptly to arrange for your care by another physician or healthcare provider.

Can I revoke my Advance Directive?

A: After you complete an Advance Directive, you may revoke it in whole or in part at any time and in any manner, without regard to your mental or physical condition. A revocation is effective upon your communication to your attending physician or other care provider or a witness to the revocation.

If you signed a Directive to Physicians or other Advance Directive for Health Care under Oklahoma law prior to 2006, it is recommended that you complete the new Advance Directive because of additional options under the existing law.

Oklahoma's Advance Directive for Health Care allows you, if you are 18 years of age or older, to inform physicians and others of your wishes to provide, decline or withdraw life-sustaining medical care and to donate specified organs when you have been diagnosed by your attending physician and another physician to be in a terminal condition, a persistently unconscious state, or an end-stage condition. The Advance Directive also allows you to appoint a Health Care Proxy of your choice to make certain decisions on your behalf.